Evaluation and management of toxicological emergencies

Abstract

After studying this chapter, you should be able to: List the methods available for decreasing toxin absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, with the indications, contraindications, and potential complications of each method. Describe toxin exposures for which enhancing toxin elimination is possible, with the specific means to do so. Describe the limitations of toxicologic drug screening, with indications for its use in specific clinical scenarios. Know those toxin exposures for which specific antidotes exist, with the indications and potential complications of their use. Identify the principles by which an exposure can be determined to be nontoxic and have a working knowledge of the many household items that are nontoxic. Describe mechanisms by which unknown compounds can be identified. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.